Storm warnings for south give cold comfort as wildfires rage in north

The Met Office issued its first severe weather warning for thunderstorms yesterday as downpours hit South Wales and the southwest of England.

The storms broke days of hot and dry weather that led to wildfires and prompted warnings of a looming lettuce shortage.

It was the first time in the Met Office’s 164-year history that a warning had been issued for thunderstorms, after a new category was introduced last month to distinguish them from persistent rainfall.

The weather service said that bursts of heavy rain increased the potential for localised flooding while prolonged or persistent rainfall was typically more widespread.

“Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures,” it said. “There is a small chance that homes and businesses…

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